El Cajón Outdoor

Cajón Propiedades

For Visitors

Cajón del Maipo, Chile

A mountain valley 45 km southeast of Santiago, carved by the Maipo River through the Andes. Home to glaciers, hot springs, Andean wildlife, and small communities that have lived here for generations.

This page covers the essentials every visitor needs before entering the canyon, regardless of why you're coming or how long you're staying.

800 m — entry point 2,200 m — Baños Morales 6,000+ m — high summits

Access

Getting here

One road into the canyon: Route G-25 (Camino al Volcán), starting from Puente Alto on the southern edge of Santiago.

By car

Follow Route G-25 from Puente Alto. Allow 45–90 min from central Santiago. On weekends, expect congestion from the canyon entrance.

By metro + bus

Line 4 to Las Mercedes. Exit toward Av. Vicuña Mackenna Poniente and board Metrobus MB-72 to San José de Maipo. Rural taxis (colectivos) continue further into the canyon.

Practical

Before you go

  • Language. Spanish only. Basic phrases will go a long way.
  • Cash. Most posadas and thermal baths don't accept cards. ATMs in San José de Maipo only.
  • Signal. Unreliable past San José de Maipo. Download offline maps before you enter.
  • Weather. Changes fast with altitude. Temperatures drop sharply after sunset even in summer.
  • Fuel. Two gas stations in the entire canyon: San José de Maipo and El Manzano. Fill up early.
  • Mountain trips. Register at sarschile.cl before heading into high-altitude areas.

Rules

Respect the territory

A few non-negotiable rules that apply everywhere in the canyon:

Fossils and archaeological remains are protected under Chilean Law 17.288. Removing them is a criminal offence. Report any find to the Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales. Wildlife — pumas, condors, guanacos, vizcachas — must not be fed or approached. All reptiles are legally protected. Campfires only in designated areas. Always extinguish with water and soil. 99% of forest fires here are caused by humans. Leave no trace. No waste collection in most of the canyon. Take everything out. No dogs beyond the lower sectors. They disturb livestock and wildlife.

Safety

Emergency contacts

Save these before leaving Santiago. Signal may not be available when you need them.

Mountain Rescue 136
Police (Carabineros) 133
Fire department 132
Municipality +56 2 2678 4923
Police San José +56 2 2922 3295
Police San Gabriel +56 2 2922 3315

The network

Explore in depth

Each site in our network covers one specific area of the canyon with verified sources and updated information. All sites are available in English and Portuguese — look for the language switcher in the footer of any page.

rutag25.cl Territory, access, sectors and safety
cajonoutdoor.cl Trekking, climbing, rivers and snow
cajonhistorico.cl History and cultural heritage
cajonsilvestre.cl Flora, fauna and natural environment
cajonprofundo.cl Geology and paleontology

Reading in English or Portuguese? All sites in this network include a language switcher in the footer — look for the translate option at the bottom of any page.